Bushfire season ends tonight

The ACT Emergency Services Agency Commissioner Dominic Lane has announced that the official 2013/2014 bushfire season for the ACT will conclude tonight, 31 March, 2014 at 11.59pm.

Since the bushfire season commenced on 1 October 2013, a total of six Total Fire Ban days were declared.

During the bushfire season, up to 28 March, 2014, ACT Fire & Rescue (ACTF&R) attended a total of 157 grass and bushfires with the ACT Rural Fire Service also attending many of those incidents and others.

“The biggest single deployment during the period for the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) was for the recent Victorian Hazelwood Mine fire,” ESA Commissioner Lane said.

“ACTF&R commenced the ACT’s involvement on 23 February, 2014 sending a total of 17 teams and 122 firefighters,” he said.

“This continued for nearly one month with ACT resources completing their duties on Tuesday 25 March, 2014.

“14 mechanics from the ESA Fleet Management unit as well as Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) tankers from ACTF&R and the ACT Rural Fire Service were also deployed to the fire.

“Unless conditions warrant a change, the ACT bushfire season will recommence on 1 October, 2014.”